THE GOSPEL ACCORDING to
*LUKE

Luke 16

1The parable of the unjust steward. 14Christ reproveth the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, who were covetous, and derided him. 19The parable of the rich man and Lazarus the beggar.


1AND he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a 1steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had 2wasted his goods.

1 Gr. housekeeper, or custodian, who is appointed for the receipts and distributions of the goods.

2 Gr. scattered, or consumed.

2And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy 3stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.

3 Or, administration, namely, of your office.

3Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.

4I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, 4they may receive me into their houses.

4 Namely, my lord’s debtors.

5So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?

6And he said, An hundred 5measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.

5 Gr. batos, which signifies a large measure of liquid wares, whereof see 1 Kings 7:26.

7Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred 6measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.

6 Gr. koros, which signifies a large measure of dry wares, 1 Kings 4 on verse 22.

8And the 7lord 8commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the 9children of this world are in their generation wiser than thea children of light.

7 Namely, of this steward.

8 Not because of his injustice, but for this his prudence to make provision for himself against the future.

9 Gr. sons, that is, who seek nothing else but the things of this world, as there are opposed to them the children of light, that is, those who, being enlightened by the Holy Ghost, seek that which is heavenly, John 12:36; Eph. 5:8; 1 Thes. 5:5, 8; 1 John 1:5, 6.

a Eph. 5:8; 1 Thes. 5:5.

9And I say unto you, Makeb to yourselves 10friends of the 11mammon of unrighteousness; that, when 12ye fail, they may 13receive you into everlasting habitations.

b Mat. 6:19; 19:21; 1 Tim. 6:19.

10 That is, take care by your liberality towards the poor, especially the faithful, that they do not complain about you, but may bless you before God. See Deut. 24:13.

11 Of this word see Mat. 6 on verse 24.

12 Or, when you shall faint, namely by death; when all your worldly goods shall forsake you. Or, shall leave, namely, the mammon.

13 Namely, as witnesses of your liberality and charity shown towards them.

10He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in 14much: and he that is unjust in 15the least is unjust also in much.

14 Or, plenty.

15 Or, the fewest.

11If therefore ye have not been faithful in the 16unrighteous mammon,c who will commit to your trust 17the true riches?

16 Because many times riches are either gotten unjustly, or not rightly bestowed or used. Others translate it false or deceitful, because it is opposed to the true good, verse 11.

c riches, money personified

17 That is, the true, imperishable and heavenly riches, Mat. 6:20.

12And if ye have not been faithful in that which is 18another man’s, who shall give you that which is 19your own?

18 Namely, which God lends you but for a time, to use not only for yourselves but also for others.

19 That is, which you shall keep always and forever.

13¶Nod servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will 20hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.e

d Mat. 6:24.

20 That is, keep close or stick to the one.

e riches, money personified

14And the Pharisees also, whof were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.

f Mat. 23:14.

15And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but Godg knoweth your hearts: forh that 21which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

g Psalm 7:9.

h 1 Sam. 16:7.

21 That is, that which worldly and carnal men esteem highly.

16Thei law and the prophets were until John: since that time the 22kingdom of God is 23preached, and every man 24presseth into it.

i Mat. 11:12, 13.

22 That is, the fulfillment of that which the law and the prophets foretold concerning the Messiah.

23 Gr. is evangelized.

24 See Mat. 11:12.

17Andj it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one 25tittlek of the law to 26fail.

j Psalm 102:26; Isa. 40:8; 51:6; Mat. 5:18.

25 See Mat. 5:18.

k small projection of some Hebrew letters, hence anything very small

26 That is, that would not be accomplished which is said and taught in the law and the prophets.

18Whosoeverl27putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.

l Mat. 5:32; 19:9; Mark 10:11; 1 Cor. 7:10.

27 To wit, other than for fornication, as is expressed in Mat. 5:32, 19:9.

19¶There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in 28purple and 29fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

28 That is, with purple garments. See Mat. 27:28; Mark 15:17.

29 Gr. byssos. This was a sort of very fine cloth or linen, which Pliny says was valued against gold, Naturalis Historia, lib. 19, cap. 10, and is expressly distinguished from silk, Rev. 18:12.

20And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his 30gate, full of sores,

30 Or, portal, porch.

21And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

22And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s 31bosom: the rich man also died, and was 32buried;

31 That is, into heaven or into paradise, where the faithful, with Abraham the father of all the faithful, shall be gathered, rest, sit down and be comforted, Mat. 8:11; John 13:23.

32 Namely, with great pomp and state. There is no mention made of Lazarus’ burial, but instead thereof, all that happened to his soul.

23And in hell he lift up 33his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

33 These words, as also some of the following, must not be understood properly, for, the soul, being a spiritual being, has neither eyes nor tongue, nor finger; but by similitude, thereby to set forth both the greatness of the pains in hell, and the unchangeableness of the state of souls after this life, being in heaven as well as in hell.

24And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; form I am tormented in this flame.

m Isa. 66:24; Mark 9:44.

25But Abraham said, Son,n remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

n Job 21:13.

26And beside all this, between us and you there is a great 34gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

34 Or, abyss, that is, a vast and deep interval settled by God’s will and power.

27Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:

28For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

29Abraham saith unto him, Theyo have 35Moses and the prophets; let them 36hear them.

o Isa. 8:20; 34:16; John 5:39; Acts 17:11.

35 That is, the writings of Moses and the prophets.

36 That is, be obedient unto them.

30And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

31And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be 37persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

37 Or, give credit to him.